Direct from Market: Tabletop
Bessie Nestoras -- Gifts and Dec, 4/15/2011 1:28:50 PM
It's springtime in New York and that means it's time for the New York Tabletop Market, held at 41 Madison, 7 W and 230 Fifth Avenue. While the weather certainly didn't cooperate for most of the days, by Thursday the sun was shining, closing the show on a high note. In fact, vendors were all in all pleased with the spring 2011 show.
Everything Old is New Again
As was spotted at Ambiente in Frankfurt this past February, many tabletop manufacturers turned to the past for this season's offerings. Rosenthal's Format dinnerware turns to designs from the 1950s and 1960s for inspiration. Jasper Conran's Baroque pattern for Wedgwood features a silhouette that is influenced by the architectural curves of classic baroque arches and medallions. It is offered in simple white bone china, as well as in Chinoiserie, a platinum design of a bird and flowers.
Spode has taken archival patterns and updated them for today's customer. The designs are young and fresh. The bone china collections are done in six patterns and two shapes, one of which features a new scalloped edge.
Nachtmann's Sixties collection of crystal barware and stemware features designs that are reminiscent of that era.
Get in Shape
Shape was an important element on the table this market. While scallop shapes, unique silhouettes and square 
Wedgwood
plates are not a new concept, it is interesting to note that they were more prevalent at this market. As mentioned earlier, Wedgwood's Baroque pattern features a new silhouette for the company, as well as the new Impression shape from Spode.
Villeroy & Boch's New Wave dinnerware continues to be a top seller, and this market the company has offered accessory pieces in a round and rectangle shape.
Touchy, Touchy
Textural designs are another important design element on the table. The company's Linen Bloom dinnerware features linen-inspired background. The look was also spotted at Royal Doulton on Monique Lhuillier's Stardust dinnerware.
From Simple White to Bold Colors
Haviland
White was the color this market. Simple white dinnerware, as well as with raised patterns were prevalent throughout all of the showrooms. Haviland offered several patterns in white and some with a new velvet finish. It's not exactly matte, as the porcelain is soft and velvety to the touch. Among the new patterns are Provence, Ramblas, San Marco, Flint and Manhattan — all featuring qualities from their respective cities. For instance, Ramblas is inspired by a Flamenco dress.
White patterns were also spotted at Richard Ginori, also featuring this soft velvet finish. Another of the company's white patterns called Broken is an edgy design that features a black broken line across the plate held together by staples — a technique that was actually used.
And Marchesa's Pleated swirl dinnerware for Lenox features a bisque and glaze finish.
On the other end of the spectrum, vendors offered bold dinnerware patterns. Hermes' Bleus D'Ailleurs features a bold cobalt blue. Richard Ginori's Fils Rouge pattern by Paola Navone
Richard Ginori
features bold graphics in black with a red rim.
Mikasa's Paradise Bloom is done in bold watercolors in blue, purple and pink. Its Garden Palette Bouquet features fuschia flowers. And Kate Spades' Block Party dinnerware for Lenox features a bold graphic design that is reminiscent of the 1960s.
Global Influences
Just as global designs have come into play in decorative accessories, the looks have also moved on to the table. Villeroy & Boch's Amazonia collection finds inspiration from the Amazon. Phillippe Deshouliere's Baobab dinnerware features the African tree of the same name on the plates.
Hermes' Bleus D'Ailleurs collection found inspiration in the porcelains of China and Japan, Persia and Turkey, and Portugal and the Netherlands.
Julia Knight's Marrakesh collection finds inspiration in Morocco. The line will be ready for the summer markets.
Lalique
takes us on a journey through Africa and Asia offering crystal pieces of animals found in those regions, as well as objects featuring motifs and styles from the two areas, such as its Victoria bowl which was inspired by the Victoria Falls.
Taupe and Gray on the Rise
Taupe was spotted an a few showrooms this market. Ralph Lauren Home showed a taupe floral pattern called Bouquet. And Phillippe Deshouliere's Pompons pattern also featured a taupe color. Taupe was also seen at Royal Crown Derby as part of its new dinnerware by designer Bruce Oldfied.
Gray is another color that is making its way onto the table. Juliska's Country Estate dinnerware is a bit of a departure for the company. While still in keeping with Juliska's iconic look, the new collection features a country scene on its dinnerware - in gray. Gray was also spotted in several dinnerware patterns at Mikasa.
Turquoise is another color to keep an eye on as it was spotted at Royal Crown Derby, Mikasa and Royal Limoges.
Chic Noir
Black was on the rise in giftware. Many vendors highlighted black accessories, including Riedel with its new 
Julia Knight
candelabra. Vera Wang's With Love Noir for Wedgwood features mixed materials with black enamel. Known for her bright and happy hues, Julia Knight also introduced a selection of decorative and serving pieces in black. And Reed & Barton introduced a selection of frames in five colors, with black being one of the highlighted colors.
Chef Approved
Chef's Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse both introduced collections this market.
Batali's kitchen and dinnerware collection for Lenox includes cookware, tools, as well as dinnerware.
Emeril teamed up with Zak Designs to offer a collection of prep bowls and other kitchen tools in a red, white and black color combination.
New and Noteworthy
Royal Crown Derby
This market Royal Crown Derby introduced a new bone china dinnerware collection by designer Bruce Oldfield (rumored to be design one of the gowns for the royal wedding). The design is young and fresh, a departure for the classic dinnerware company. The Ruche collection finds inspiration in fabric and is done in white with a 22-kt. gold rim, and four accent colors: turquoise, yellow, taupe and red.
Making a New Home
Michael Aram has taken a permanent space in 41 Madison. The new showroom is sleek in black and is similar to its flagship location in New York's Chelsea neighborhood.
Marc Blackwell can now be found in Gallery on Six in 7 W. Also new to rep showroom is
Switch-A-Dish. The melamine dinnerware features interchangeable rings, so one can coordinate their table 
Marc Blackwell
according the event.
Sorella Home has found a home with The Richard Cohen Collection in 7 W.
Australian tabletop manufacturer Maxwell & Williams has taken showroom space in 41 Madison and will be distributed in the U.S. by Fitz and Floyd.
Party, Party, Party
As always, the parties during Tabletop market were aplenty. Tuesday night WWRD hosted an event, as did Rosenthal, which was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Studio Line. The company is offering a collection of 50 vases from throughout the years, limited to the year 2011.
7 West New York also hosted a cocktail reception with a garden theme and there were table displays in the lobby reflecting the theme.
Wednesday night buyers gathered in the lobby of 41 Madison to unwind with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.
Also on Wednesday night, Michael Aram hosted a reception to celebrate the opening of his new permanent showroom in 41 Madison. And Lenox also hosted a Tabletop party.
Thursday night, new 41 Madison tenant Q Squared also hosted a cocktail party.
We would love your feedback!
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